Lily Huynh/The Cougar
When living on campus, Houston’s warm weather can make it easy to forget that colder temperatures are right around the corner. Winter is coming sooner than you may think, so it’s important for students to know how to stay prepared. Whether you are staying on campus for winter break or leaving, it is inevitable that you will experience the freezes Houston has to offer.
When it comes to preparing your living space for winter, one of the main concerns for students living on campus is affordability. But staying safe and warm doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.
Here are some tips on what may help you ease into winter while staying on a budget.
Medicine
During winter, the first priority is taking care of yourself. College campuses can be a breeding ground for germs, so making sure you are stocked up on basic medicine and other health essentials can help you prepare for cold and flu season. Cold and flu medicine, Vitamin C, Advil, Tylenol, hand sanitizer, cough drops, tissues and a thermometer are a few health essentials you may need.
Unfortunately, medicine can get expensive. When shopping for over the counter medicine, consider purchasing the store brand version rather than the name brand. Checking the active ingredients can help you find a more affordable option with the same active ingredient as its name-brand counterpart. For students living on campus, Kroger at 4000 Polk St. is located near UH, making it one of the closest options for picking up medicine and other winter essentials. UH also has a Campus Pharmacy offering over-the-counter medications.
Food and water
Keeping bottled water, shelf-stable snacks, instant meals and other foods that don’t require much preparation can come in handy if severe weather makes it difficult to leave your dorm. Stocking up before temperatures drop can also help you avoid having to make a last-minute trip to the store.
For students looking to stock their dorms before a freeze, there are several grocery stores surrounding campus. ALDI at 3618 Old Spanish Trail is a nearby option for students shopping on a budget, while H-E-B at 6055 South Fwy. offers another nearby location for groceries, water and other essentials.
If you are looking to stock up on food without adding to your grocery bill, you can take a look at the Cougar Cupboard, UH’s free on-campus food pantry. The pantry provides currently enrolled students with access to groceries and other essentials at no cost, which can be especially helpful when navigating under a tight budget.
Emergency supplies
A flashlight, portable charger or power bank, along with extra charging cables and batteries can be helpful in case of a power outage due to freezing temperatures. Before a freeze, students should also make sure their phones and portable chargers are fully charged.
If you have a car on campus, keeping an ice scraper and jumper cables handy can also be helpful when navigating the aftermath of a Houston freeze. If permitted under your dorm’s housing and safety rules, a small space heater may also help keep your room warm during colder temperatures. Before purchasing or using one, check your residence hall’s policies to make sure heaters are allowed and follow any safety requirements.
Stores like Dollar Tree and Five Below can be helpful for finding inexpensive flashlights, batteries, charging cables and other basic emergency supplies.
Comfort
Ensuring you have extra layers, blankets and thick socks can help immensely when dealing with freezing temperatures. Shopping can be expensive, but there are plenty of discount and thrift stores surrounding the UH area where you can find winter essentials without breaking the bank.
Marshalls and HomeGoods at 1450 W. Gray St. and T.J. Maxx at 1554 W. Gray Ave. offer another option for students looking for blankets, warm clothing and other winter items at discounted prices. Since the stores are located next to each other, students can also compare their options without making multiple trips across Houston.
Winter in Houston may not last long, but freezing temperatures can still catch you off guard. Preparing ahead of time can make all the difference, especially for students living on campus and away from home. By shopping smart, keeping a few essentials on hand and paying attention to upcoming weather, you can stay safe and comfortable regardless of the conditions.
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